Ellsbury coming on strong

BOSTON -- What with the biggest trade in franchise history rendering the games somewhat microscopic in scale, it's easy to overlook how well Jacoby Ellsbury is playing these days.

Tim Britton

BOSTON -- What with the biggest trade in franchise history rendering the games somewhat microscopic in scale, it's easy to overlook how well Jacoby Ellsbury is playing these days.

Ellsbury was a central figure in Boston's 5-1 win on Monday, contributing a solo home run, a double and two runs scored.

It marked Ellsbury's fifth consecutive multi-hit game, and he went 13-for-33 (.394) with four extra-base hits in the seven-game homestand.

"I feel good at the plate," said Ellsbury. "Throughout the course of the season, you have good months, you have better months. I've only been back a little over a month, month and a half. It was just a matter of time."

Ellsbury's second home run of the season came on Luke Hochevar's 2-1 fastball in the first, tying the game up at one.

His opposite-field double in the sixth preceded Cody Ross' RBI two-bagger to push the Red Sox advantage to 4-1.

"I've seen a more aggressive hitter, driving the ball better, hitting with some power," manager Bobby Valentine said. "It seems like his body is really feeling good about baseball right now. Giving us that first run, tying it up that quickly, you never know how big that is but I think it was big. Hitting it off the wall doesn't hurt either."

Ellsbury credited his offseason conditioning.

"I've always felt like I get stronger as the season goes on," he said. "That's the plan -- always getting stronger, getting better."